A 5-year-old boy from a rural area in Uttar Pradesh presents in October with acute onset fever, altered sensorium, and focal seizures. MRI shows bilateral thalamic lesions. Which mosquito genus is the principal vector responsible for transmitting this infection?
- A Anopheles
- B Aedes
- C Culex ✓
- D Mansonia
Correct answer: C. Culex
Explanation
The clinical picture of acute encephalitis with bilateral thalamic involvement is classic for Japanese encephalitis (JE). JE virus is a flavivirus transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, principally Culex tritaenorhynchus, which breeds in rice paddies. Anopheles transmits malaria. Aedes transmits dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Mansonia transmits Brugia malayi. JE is hyperendemic in parts of Uttar Pradesh and is covered under the Universal Immunization Programme in India with the SA 14-14-2 live attenuated vaccine.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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